Home for the holidays: Mason Jar Elf Cottage

While the wildly popular "Elf on a Shelf" has taken the world by storm in recent holiday seasons, his pint sized ancestors have been part of folklore in cultures around the world for centuries. From magical to mischievous, in a variety of incarnations and called by different names, these tiny friends seem to capture our imaginations especially around the winter holidays. 

So whether you share your home with a gnome, Nisse, Elf or Brownie or two, you can keep the wee folk warm and toasty this season in their own cottages fashioned from repurposed jars and basic craft supplies.

clockwise from top paintings by Swedish artist Jenny Nystrom

vintage Spanish Christmas Card found on Pinterest

Ein Apfelchen furs Rentier (An apple for the Reindeer)

Foto: Getty Images / Per Breiehagen

2011

You'll Need:

Assorted jars, preferably with smooth sides

 multi surface (glass friendly) craft paint

clear or white glitter

faux wood contact or decorative paper

party hats

faux moss, snow, printables, accessories as desired

flameless votives

I first rinsed the jars and allowed to dry.

I then decided on a design and painted around window frames or any area I wished to remain clear first.

Then I filled in around clear areas with colors of choice (I chose frosty white with brown trim) this took two coats.

While paint was wet I sprinkled with glitter for a snowy finish.

I fashioned doors out of faux wood paper (Modge podged onto sturdy cardstock) but for larger projects you could opt for a popsicle stick elf door like the version I shared on my Scandinavian Christmas post

The roof was simply faux wood paper attached to party hats (left over from my Autumn Apple cones) or folded to form a roof shape.

Moss and a printable sign add the finishing touches.

Display with wintry props and forest friends

Pop in a flameless votive or two (I used salad tongs for the tall one)

Pennywise is now on Youtube: our elf cottage tutorial below

Wishing everyone the joys wonders of the Winter Season!

Don't Like to Paint?

I adapted this idea from a toadstool cottage -(a jar candle covered with polymer clay) I found online which is adorable. Unfortunately for me the instructions are in Chinese but the step by step photos are pretty clear.

http://www.duitang.com

Wishing everyone the joys wonders of the Winter Season!